The New Britain Museum of American Art has opened "The Museum of the Old Colony," a site-specific installation by Trinity College Professor Pablo Delano. The exhibition uses archival photography, sculptural objects, and text to examine the enduring impact of U.S. colonial rule in Puerto Rico since 1898. For this iteration, Delano has expanded the work to include new materials specifically documenting the history and experiences of the Puerto Rican community within Connecticut.
The project is significant for its subversion of traditional museum aesthetics to critique institutional power and colonial narratives. Having recently been featured in the 2024 Venice Biennale, the installation's arrival in Connecticut highlights the intersection of global post-colonial discourse and local immigrant histories. By reframing historical artifacts through a personal and artistic lens, Delano challenges viewers to confront the political and economic realities of Puerto Rico's current status.